![]() After the effects have worn off, your cat won’t react to catnip for about half an hour. The effect of catnip usually lasts for between 5 and 30 minutes. Eating catnip seems to result in a calming effect, while sniffing it results in excitement and stimulation. ![]() It’s also thought that a cat’s reaction to catnip can depend on whether they eat it or just sniff it. Others will become super sleepy and calm. Some cats may become playful and affectionate, wanting to bounce around the house. This is what triggers a stimulant effect, which is thought to mimic the pheromones associated with mating.Ĭatnip enhances your cat’s mood, but the effect depends on each cat, as they all react differently. The leaves and stalk of the catnip plant contain the chemical nepetalactone. Of course, it’s also cultivated, dried, and sold as catnip for our feline friends to enjoy.Īs well as buying dried catnip, you can buy it as an oil, spray, or even grow it fresh in your garden. “Cataria” translates to “of a cat”.Ĭatmint is native to Mediterranean and North African regions but now grows wild across plenty of North America and Europe. Even the “cataria” part of its name hints to how long we’ve known this herb to affect felines. It’s also known by its Latin name, Nepeta cataria, and belongs to the same plant family as mint. You might see catnip also called catwort, catmint, field balm, or even Menta de Gato. The good news is that yes, there are! In this article, we’ve rounded up seven health benefits that mean catnip is something you should consider keeping in your home, if you don’t already.įrom the obvious uses that most of us know about to a few others that might surprise you, we’ve got you and your cat covered. So, while we might want to select a catnip-filled toy, are there actually any health benefits to allowing your cat to have catnip? Trust your kitty to know when they've had enough.Most of us cat parents know that many cats have a weakness for catnip. Be mindful of overindulgence though-cats are unlikely to overdose on catnip, but they can get sick if they eat too much. It may take as long as two hours for him to "reset" and become susceptible to it again. Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest. Other cats become hyperactive or downright aggressive, especially if you approach them. Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. When eaten, however, it tends to have the opposite effect and your cat mellows out. Researchers suspect that the herb targets feline "happy" receptors in the brain. The most intense catnip experience starts with the nose-one whiff of the stuff and your cat promptly goes nuts. The trait doesn't emerge until a cat is between three and six months old until then, a kitten will not have a response. Sensitivity to this herb is hereditary-an estimated 50 % of cats have no reaction. Nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip, can turn even the laziest couch potato into a crazy furball-if said furball happens to have inherited the sensitivity to its effects. Catnip is one of the approximately 250 species in the mint family and has a leafy green appearance.
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